Even the priest who visited him several times was by no means kindly disposed towards her.  He belonged to the Dominican order, and was the confessor of the old countess and Frau Rosalinde.  They must have slandered her sorely to him; and as the order of St. Francis, to which the Sisters of St. Clare belonged, was a thorn in his flesh, he bore her a grudge because, as the Abbess Kunigunde’s niece, she stood by her and her convent, and threatened to win the Eysvogel household over to the Franciscans.

Before the magistrate and his wife left their niece, Herr Berthold ordered the men and maidservants to stand in separate rows, then, in the physician’s presence, introduced Els to them as the mistress whom they were to obey, and requested her to choose those whose services she wished to retain.  The rest would be compensated at the Town Hall the next day for their abrupt dismissal.

Els had never found it harder to say good-by to her relatives; but the leech Otto remained with her some time, and was soon joined by Conrad Teufel, thereby rendering it a little easier for her to persist in the performance of her difficult duty.  On the way home to Schweinau the magistrate and his wife talked together as eagerly as if they had just met after a long separation.  They had gone back to the query how nursing the wounded criminals would affect Eva, and both hoped that Cordula’s presence and encouragement would strengthen her power of resistance.

But what did this mean?

As they approached the little castle they saw from the road in the arbour, which was lighted with links, the figure of the countess.  She was sitting in Frau Christine’s easy chair, but Eva was nowhere in view.  Had her strength failed, and was Cordula awaiting their return after putting her more delicate friend to bed?  And Boemund Altrosen, who stood opposite to her, leaning against one of the pillars which supported the arched ceiling of the room, how came he here?  The Pfinzings had known him from early childhood, for his father had been a dear friend and brother in arms of the magistrate; and—­whilst Boemund, as a boy, was enjoying the instruction of the Benedictines in the monastery of St. AEgidius, he had been a favourite comrade of Frau Christine’s son, who had fallen in battle, and always found a cordial reception in his parents’ house.

With what tender anxiety the knight gazed into Cordula’s pale face!  Something must have befallen the blooming, vigorous huntress and daring horsewoman, and both Herr Berthold and his wife feared that it concerned Eva.

The young couple now perceived their approach, and Cordula, rising, waved her handkerchief to them.  Yet how slowly she rose, how feebly the vivacious girl moved her hand.